Container

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to containers, and more specifically, to plastic containers. The containers described herein may be applied to any use, but they are particularly useful for storing paint.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/278,788, filed Apr. 5, 2006, which is a continuation under 37 C.F.R.1.53(b) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/547,249 filed Apr. 11,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,756, issued Apr. 25, 2006, whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to containers, and more specifically, toplastic containers. The containers described herein may be applied toany use, but they are particularly useful for storing paint, varnish,stain and the like. The containers of the invention will be described inconnection with the use of storing paint with the understanding that thecontainer has other usages, such as storing food or other contents.

Paint is conventionally stored and sold in metal cans which have anupper edge with a groove in which an annular edge of a metal cover issecured by a press fit. The cover is typically removed by prying an edgeof the cover upwardly out of engagement with the can edge so that thestored paint can be used. The cover is usually pried upwardly with ascrewdriver or other pointed device. The cover can be resecured onto thecan by press fit, typically by striking the lid with a solid object,such as a hammer. Because the paint frequently fills the groove of thecan, striking the lid with a hammer oftentimes causes the paint to sprayoutwards. Further, any paint that remains in the groove prevents a tightsecuring of the cover.

Paint has generally been stored in round metal containers because thedensity and weight of paint has been too great for polymeric-basedcontainers to contain and because of a reactivity of the paint withpolymeric containers. Round-shaped cans have been used to store paintbecause it has been difficult to fabricate metal containers withsymmetries that are not round.

Notwithstanding the widespread use of round metal cans as containers forpaint, the use of those cans has been expensive and wasteful withrespect to storage and transport. For example, round metal cans cannotbe positioned efficiently. Further, round metal cans add significantweight to the paint product. Round metal cans are typically difficult toopen and close, and round metal cans are difficult to carry. Round metalcans are also easily be dented. Moreover, problems are associated withreclosing the round metal can after use since paint has most likelyfilled the channel groove portion of the can which receives the standardlid, resulting in spray, spillage and disrupted resealing.

Efforts have been made to utilize paint containers manufactured frommaterials other than paint. For example, plastic paint containers arereported in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,686; 4,453,647; 4,530,442; 4,548,332;4,619,373; 4,655,363; 5,303,839; and 5,975,346. However, a need stillexists for a paint container that can be easily and efficientlytransported, stored, positioned, opened, closed and carried by hand. Insecuring the cover in position, it is important that the cover is bothsecurely attached and readily removed when desired. Further, thecontainer should be designed not only to store the paint, but also toprevent undesired escape of the paint, to prevent the ingress of dust,moisture or other materials into the container, to allow opening withoutspecial tools and to allow tight resealing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention includes a polymeric container.The polymeric container comprises a main body. The main body includes aneck portion, a bottom portion and a handle portion. The bottom portiondefines a lug. One other embodiment further includes a lid positionableover the neck. The lid defines indentations capable of receiving lugsfrom another polymeric container. In another embodiment, the main bodydefines an indentation capable of receiving one or more lugs.

Another embodiment includes a method for stacking containers. The methodcomprises providing a first container comprising a main body with abottom portion. The bottom portion defines one or more lugs. A secondcontainer is also provided. The second container comprises a main bodythat defines an indentation and a bottom portion. The bottom portiondefines one or more lugs. The first container is stacked on the secondcontainer so that the lug of the first container is seated within theindentation of the second container.

One other embodiment of the present invention includes a method forstacking containers. The method comprises providing a first containerwith a main body that includes a bottom portion. The bottom portiondefines one or more lugs. The method also comprises providing a secondcontainer and a lid positioned on the container. The lid defines anindentation. The first container is stacked on the second container sothat the lug of the first container is seated within the indentation onthe lid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the container of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a plurality of the containers positionedfor transport or storage.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the container of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the container with anindentation for lug receipt in a lid applied to the container.

FIG. 5 a is a top plan view of another embodiment of the bottom portionof the container of the present invention with an annular lug in a mainbody of the container.

FIG. 5 b is a top plan view of one other embodiment of the bottomportion of the container of the present invention with a plurality ofdiscrete lugs in the main body of the container.

FIG. 5 c is a top plan view of another embodiment of the bottom portionof the container of the present invention with a single centrallypositioned lug.

FIG. 6 a is a top plan view of a top portion of one embodiment of thecontainer of the present invention wherein the main body defines anannular indentation.

FIG. 6 b is a top plan view of a top portion of one embodiment of thecontainer of the present invention wherein the main body defines aplurality of discrete indentations.

FIG. 6 c is a top plan view of one embodiment of a container and lid ofthe present invention wherein an indentation is defined by the lid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the container of the present invention, illustratedgenerally at 10 in FIG. 1, includes a main body 12 with a generallyparallelpiped shape and a lid 14 attachable to the main body 12 at aneck 24. The main body 12 comprises the neck 24, a handle 16, and abottom portion 18 with an annular lug 20 and a central indentation 22.Although the container depicted represents a paint volume content ofapproximately one gallon, the container is readily manufactured indifferent sizes. The container of the present invention is not limitedto any one volume or dimension.

The container of the present invention includes a number of featuresthat render the container more easily and efficiently stored andtransported than conventional containers, such as round metal paintcontainers. One of these features is the symmetry of the main body. Themain body of the container of the present invention is a parallelpipedthat permits the container to be transported with a minimum of freespace. Straight sidewalls of adjacent containers are alignable with eachother, as is shown at 3 in FIG. 2. The container of the presentinvention also includes a number of features that render the containermore easily and efficiently opened and closed than conventionalcontainers.

The container of the present invention 10 includes a unitary handle 16that forms indentations for fingers 26 that enable a user to more easilycarry the container 10. One embodiment of the container 10 includes anannular lug 20 that permits more stable stacking of the container 10. Inparticular, the lug 20 is insertable in an annular groove 28 definedwithin one embodiment of the lid 14.

The shape of the lug 20 can be varied for other container embodiments.For example, the lug may be a continuous annular lug, such as is shownat 20 in FIG. 5 a or may be a discrete lug such as is shown at 50 inFIG. 5 b. The lug may also be a single lug 52 positioned in a centralregion of the bottom of the container, as shown in FIG. 5 c. Althoughfour lugs are shown, in FIG. 5 b, it is understood that more or fewerlugs are suitable for use. The lugs 20, 50, and 52 have shapes rangingfrom rectangular to ovoid.

The shape of the groove 28 defined is of a shape that permits thestacking of the containers and that permits receipt of the lug 20. Thisshape is an annular shape for receipt of annular lug 20 as shown at 60in FIG. 6 a. The groove 60 is defined by the container main body. Theshape of the groove or indentation is discrete, as shown at 62 in FIG. 6b, for receipt of discrete lugs 50. The discrete indentations 62 arealso positioned within the main body of the container. In one otherembodiment shown in FIG. 6 c, the indentation 64 is in a lid 62. Theindentation receives the lug 52.

The unitary handle 16 also creates a modular shape for the container 10that renders the container more efficient to store. The handle 16 may behollow or solid. The handle 16 is, for some embodiments, integral withthe main body.

One lid embodiment is illustrated generally at 14 in FIG. 3. The lid 14comprises two turning mechanisms, a central mechanism 32 andindentations 34. The central mechanism comprises a unitary band 36 thatallows the lid 14 to be moved in clockwise and a counter clockwisedirections. The band 36 has an elevation that permits fingers of a userto be placed below the band 36 to turn the lid 14. The band formsindentations 40 for fingers that enable the user to more easily carry,open and close the container. The indentations 34 are positioned andsized to enable a user to grasp the lid 14 and to turn the lid 14clockwise and counter clockwise. The lid 14 of the present invention isconfigured to enable individuals with “stiff” fingers to use and to turnwith relative ease. The lid 14 is sealed to the container 12 by ano-ring 38. The lid 14 defines threading 42, and the neck 24 definesthreading 44, so that the threadings 42 and 44 are capable ofinteracting to attach the lid 14 to the main body 12.

The container of the present invention is fabricated from a polymericmaterial such as polypropylene with methods well known to the artworker. The handle is for some embodiments filled and for otherembodiments hollow.

For some embodiments, the container is lined with a material such as aheat sealable thermoplastic or laminate which acts to contain a materialsuch as paint and, along with the o-ring seal, to prevent air oxidation.Suitable liner materials include polyester, polyvinylidene chloride,polyethylene and the like. Other suitable liner materials includecellulosics, polycarbonates, polypropylene, polyester or metallizedplastic sheet material. One liner material is a plastic laminate thatincludes nylon, polyvinylidene chloride, polyethylene and a 0.003 to0.001 inch aluminum foil. The aluminum foil is sandwiched between layersof the plastic material.

In one embodiment, an aluminum foil barrier is laminated to an outerpolymeric shell by a thermoosealing polycoat. The polycoat thermallybonds the foil to the polymeric material. One polycoat comprises apolyethylene extrusion that is coated to the polymeric shell.

The container of the present invention is usable for storing andtransporting a material such as paint. The shape of the containerpermits space-efficient transport. The shape of the container as well asthe ergonomic features of the lid and handle render the container easyand safe for an individual to carry.

While preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein, thosefamiliar with the art to which this invention relates will recognizevarious alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the presentinvention that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. All such modifications and variations are intended to beincluded within the scope of the invention, as defined by the followingclaims.

1. Apparatus comprising: a stackable paint container comprising aunitary main body containing paint, wherein the main body includes athreaded neck portion and a sidewall, the unitary main body including ahandle portion having opposite ends each of which extend from the mainbody, the handle portion comprising a molded handle wherein the moldedhandle and the main body define an opening for receiving fingers of ahuman hand, the handle portion extending from the top and bottom of theunitary main body with an inner wall of the opening formed by a wall ofthe main body, wherein a substantial portion of the unitary main bodydefines a generally square or rectangular perimeter of the container;the unitary main body further comprising a bottom portion having abottom surface with a recessed area defined centrally in the bottomsurface with respect to at least one centerline bisecting the bottomportion, the recessed area including a recessed horizontal surfacehaving a perimeter that is vertically offset from the bottom surface,wherein the recessed area is a substantial area of the bottom portion ofthe second container and the bottom portion is free of an interlockingextension, the recessed horizontal surface extending inwardly from theperimeter of the recessed horizontal surface; a lid threaded attachableto the threaded neck portion of the unitary main body, wherein thethreaded neck portion is disposed centrally with respect to at least onecenterline bisecting the main body, the lid of the container including atop surface portion, and a skirt extending from the perimeter of theplanar top surface portion, the skirt having an outer surface which isfree of interlocking extensions, the lid having at least one edgeportion between the top surface portion and the skirt; wherein thebottom recessed area of the container is sized to receive the topsurface portion of the lid so that the at least one edge portion iswithin the bottom recessed area and functions to aid in aligning the topsurface portion within the bottom recessed area and so that the recessedhorizontal surface of the bottom portion is parallel to and proximate tothe top surface portion of the lid; one or more alignment nubs on asurface of the container, and one or more nub recesses sized to receivethe nubs; and further wherein the container is constructed to supportanother paint container stacked on the lid while the lid is attached tothe threaded neck portion and so that the stackable container supports asubstantially amount of the weight of the another container and at leastin part retains the another container in a stable stacked arrangement,the another container being substantially identical to the stackablecontainer so that the recessed area of the bottom portion of the anothercontainer receives the top portion of the lid when stacked thereon andthe recessed horizontal surface of the bottom portion of the anothercontainer is parallel to and proximate to the top surface portion of thelid, and further wherein the alignment nubs on the stackable containerare received in the nub recesses of the another container.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the alignment nub of the container iscentrally positioned on the recessed area of the bottom portion of thecontainer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the nub recess of theanother container is centrally positioned on the top surface portion ofthe lid of the another container so that the alignment nub on thecontainer is receivable in the nub recess of the another container. 4.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alignment nubs of the containerare symmetrically positioned on the recessed area of the bottom portionof the container.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the nub recessesof the another container are symmetrically positioned on the top surfaceportion of the lid of the another container so that the alignment nubson the container are receivable in the nub recesses of the anothercontainer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid of the containercomprises a unitary band.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein theunitary band defines indentations.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe lid of the container defines indentations on the skirt thereof fortwisting off the lid.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid ofthe container includes an o-ring positioned to seal the lid to the neckof the container.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the moldedhandle of the container does not extend beyond the sidewall of thecontainer.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the molded handle ofthe container is hollow.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein themolded handle of the container is plastic-filled.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the main body of the container comprises polymer. 14.The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the polymer is polypropylene.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is lined with a liner. 16.The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the liner is a heat sealablethermoplastic.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the liner is aheat sealable laminate.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein thematerial of the liner includes one of polyester, polyvinylidenechloride, and polyethylene.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein thematerial of the liner includes one of cellulosics, polycarbonates,polypropylene, polyester and metallized plastic sheet material.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the edge of the threaded neck portion ofthe container is positioned so that the paint can be poured with ease.